IT Technology Unifies Images, Data, and Reporting Workflows Throughout Hospital Enterprise
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 31 Jul 2014 |
|
A new integrated information technology (IT) system will unify images, data, and reporting workflows across all imaging departments in a hospital. The technology will allow hospitals to expand towards the latest, advanced imaging technology platform.
Az Groeninge Hospital (Kortrijk, Belgium) has chosen to replace its existing third-party picture archiving and communication system (PACS) with a comprehensive Impax radiology information system (RIS)/PACS/reporting solution. Agfa HealthCare (Mortsel, Belgium) will provide all hardware (excluding the storage) and will manage both hardware and software, under an Agfa HealthCare system management agreement.
Az Groeninge is a large regional hospital and is affiliated with the KU Leuven Hospital network. It is the result of a merger of four hospitals in Kortrijk. With over 1,000 beds, it is one of the largest hospitals in Belgium. Annually, it admits some 35,000 inpatients and some 47,500 outpatients. Az Groeninge is the first nonuniversity hospital in the Benelux to obtain the high level international Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for patient safety and quality of healthcare (2013). It is also focused on always maintaining the latest and most innovative technology.
The hospital chose to implement the Impax RIS/PACS/reporting solution. The Az Groeninge/Agfa HealthCare agreement includes: Impax RIS/PACS workflow system for data management and reporting. It will be implemented for all imaging departments, in a hospital-wide solution. The existing Impax RIS will also be upgraded to the latest version. Clinical applications include: tight integration with Impax provides point-of-care access to clinical applications such as Fusion and 3D (three-dimensions), supporting, e.g., the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging department with the most advanced technology.
The ICIS (imaging clinical information system) View enables enhanced viewing, sharing, and integration across platforms, with all images from all sources accessible on a single browser-based viewer. The ICIS vendor-neutral archive (VNA) allows integrated archiving of multidepartment, multifacility, and multispecialty imaging data.
The Impax BI is an advanced business intelligence (BI) platform that facilitates healthcare managers and care providers to compile, organize and manage clinical, quality, financial and administrative data. The hospital will continue to use the existing Agfa HealthCare web portal to exchange information with external referring physicians.
Agfa HealthCare will manage both software and hardware under the agreement. This will include monitoring the availability and performance of the local network, server hardware, local network, and operating systems; database management; and backup management. “We were convinced to extend our relationship with Agfa HealthCare not only due to the quality of its solutions, but especially to the strength and availability of its service and support,” comments Dr. Olivier Vanovermeire, head of medical imaging, Az Groeninge. “Agfa HealthCare is a company with a solid structure and proven expertise in medical imaging. And it is a reliable partner in our market, which is important for the future.”
“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with Az Groeninge, supporting its evolution with our enterprise-wide solutions, as well as our services and support organization,” stated Hans Vandewyngaerde, president, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Agfa HealthCare.
Related Links:
Az Groeninge Hospital
Agfa HealthCare
Az Groeninge Hospital (Kortrijk, Belgium) has chosen to replace its existing third-party picture archiving and communication system (PACS) with a comprehensive Impax radiology information system (RIS)/PACS/reporting solution. Agfa HealthCare (Mortsel, Belgium) will provide all hardware (excluding the storage) and will manage both hardware and software, under an Agfa HealthCare system management agreement.
Az Groeninge is a large regional hospital and is affiliated with the KU Leuven Hospital network. It is the result of a merger of four hospitals in Kortrijk. With over 1,000 beds, it is one of the largest hospitals in Belgium. Annually, it admits some 35,000 inpatients and some 47,500 outpatients. Az Groeninge is the first nonuniversity hospital in the Benelux to obtain the high level international Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for patient safety and quality of healthcare (2013). It is also focused on always maintaining the latest and most innovative technology.
The hospital chose to implement the Impax RIS/PACS/reporting solution. The Az Groeninge/Agfa HealthCare agreement includes: Impax RIS/PACS workflow system for data management and reporting. It will be implemented for all imaging departments, in a hospital-wide solution. The existing Impax RIS will also be upgraded to the latest version. Clinical applications include: tight integration with Impax provides point-of-care access to clinical applications such as Fusion and 3D (three-dimensions), supporting, e.g., the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging department with the most advanced technology.
The ICIS (imaging clinical information system) View enables enhanced viewing, sharing, and integration across platforms, with all images from all sources accessible on a single browser-based viewer. The ICIS vendor-neutral archive (VNA) allows integrated archiving of multidepartment, multifacility, and multispecialty imaging data.
The Impax BI is an advanced business intelligence (BI) platform that facilitates healthcare managers and care providers to compile, organize and manage clinical, quality, financial and administrative data. The hospital will continue to use the existing Agfa HealthCare web portal to exchange information with external referring physicians.
Agfa HealthCare will manage both software and hardware under the agreement. This will include monitoring the availability and performance of the local network, server hardware, local network, and operating systems; database management; and backup management. “We were convinced to extend our relationship with Agfa HealthCare not only due to the quality of its solutions, but especially to the strength and availability of its service and support,” comments Dr. Olivier Vanovermeire, head of medical imaging, Az Groeninge. “Agfa HealthCare is a company with a solid structure and proven expertise in medical imaging. And it is a reliable partner in our market, which is important for the future.”
“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with Az Groeninge, supporting its evolution with our enterprise-wide solutions, as well as our services and support organization,” stated Hans Vandewyngaerde, president, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at Agfa HealthCare.
Related Links:
Az Groeninge Hospital
Agfa HealthCare
Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Hypodermic Syringe
SurTract™ Safety Syringe
Tourniquet System
heidi– mein Tourniquet
Latest Health IT News
- Digital Heart Model Supports Targeted Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation
- AI Framework Helps Clinicians Create Trustworthy Risk Prediction Tools
- AI Tool Screens for Primary Aldosteronism Using Routine EHR Data
- AI-Enabled ECG Software Predicts One-Year Atrial Fibrillation Risk
- AI-Native EHR Achieves EU Medical Device Certification
- EHR-Integrated Screening Workflow Detects Cognitive Impairment at Admission
- AI System Detects and Quantifies Chronic Subdural Hematoma
- Continuous Monitoring Platform Detects Infection Risk Across Care Transitions
- Automated System Classifies and Tracks Cardiogenic Shock Across Hospital Settings
- Voice-Driven AI System Enables Structured GI Procedure Documentation
- EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
AI Tool Predicts Chronic Kidney Disease Risk in Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease is a common and serious complication of type 2 diabetes and often progresses without obvious early symptoms, increasing morbidity and straining health systems. Many risk models were... Read more
AI Trends Report Guides Responsible, Effective Healthcare Deployment
Hospitals are under growing pressure to adopt artificial intelligence tools that improve safety, efficiency, and continuity of care without compromising quality. At the same time, clinicians need clearer... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Noninvasive Silk Sensor Could Transform Care for Premature Infants
Monitoring premature infants often relies on multiple wired sensors and repeated blood draws to track glucose and electrolytes, which can irritate fragile skin and disrupt care. Trend information between... Read more
AI Identifies Hidden Stroke Risk Through At-Home Behavior Patterns
Cerebrovascular disease can lead to serious aftereffects when treatment is delayed, yet early risk is difficult to detect before symptoms appear. Subtle, pre-symptomatic changes in daily living often go... Read more
Surgical Techniques
view channel
FDA Clears Robotic System for Precise TMS Coil Positioning
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive therapy used primarily for treatment-resistant depression and increasingly applied to other behavioral health conditions. Because TMS targets specific... Read more
Novel Microparticles Break Down Biofilms and Boost Antibiotic Activity
Biofilms are dense matrices of bacteria and proteins that shield microbes from disinfectants and drugs. They complicate wound care and the reprocessing of surgical instruments because standard agents often... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
AI Avatar Doctor Improves Patient Understanding Before Radiotherapy
Radiation oncology consultations require patients to grasp complex concepts quickly, yet anxiety and information overload often undermine understanding and informed consent. Poor comprehension can also... Read more
Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disorder that makes breathing difficult and often disturbs sleep, reducing energy for daily activities. Limited engagement in pulmonary... Read more
Health IT
view channel
Digital Heart Model Supports Targeted Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an erratic, quivering heartbeat and a leading cause of stroke. Catheter ablation is widely used to interrupt arrhythmogenic tissue, yet many patients—especially with persistent ... Read more
AI Framework Helps Clinicians Create Trustworthy Risk Prediction Tools
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to estimate risks for conditions such as sepsis, heart disease, and cancer, yet many models remain difficult for clinicians to interpret or trust.... Read more
Point of Care
view channel
New Brain Ultrasound Platform Enables Bedside Postoperative Imaging
Transporting postoperative patients for CT or MRI can create operational burdens, delays, and disruptions in care. Bedside visualization may help reduce transport demands, lower radiation exposure, and... Read more
Handheld Ultrasound Expands Point-of-Care Imaging Access in Brazil
Rapid access to diagnostic imaging is essential across hospitals, emergency departments, clinics, and municipal health systems, but large markets still face uneven availability, particularly in rural regions.... Read more
Business
view channel
AI Care Platform Adds Quantitative MRI Analysis for Multiple Sclerosis
Neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis require timely identification and coordinated, long-term management. As health systems seek consistent decision-making at scale, quantitative neuroimaging... Read more
